Overview

Welcome to a very special Sri Lanka hotel. A hotel that doesn’t sit on the landscape but is part of it. Where monkeys climb your balcony pillars as if they were trees, swifts nest in the corners of corridors as if they were cliffs, granite crags erupt into the sinuous white walkways. Where you can float in the infinity pool while gazing across at the Sigiriya rock fortress, the eighth wonder of the world. Welcome to Heritance Kandalama, one of the premier 5 Star hotels in Sri Lanka.

Heritance Kandalama is an architectural masterpiece by Geoffrey Bawa , built overlooking the eighth wonder of the world – the rock fortress of Sigiriya. The hotel sits at the heart of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, close to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.The unpaved road through the jungle gives no clue to what to expect – there are no views of the hotel on the horizon. Then suddenly, as you drive up a ramp, a cave-like entrance appears. And even as you step into another world of minimalist white pillars and cool curving corridors, enormous boulders intrude and birdsong hangs in the air.The theme continues throughout the hotel. Heritance Kandalama is shaped like the outspread wings of a bird, following the line of the cliff from which it seems to emerge. The hotel is a staggering 1km from end to end, and rises up seven floors, yet appears to be a perfectly natural extension of the mountainside. The flat roof and timber pillars support a screen of vegetation that attracts local wildlife.The abundance of real-life animals around the hotel is complemented by wonderful large-scale sculptures within it. A metal owl is suspended outside the main restaurant; wooden elephants inhabit the lounge; a stone cobra uncoils along the terrace overlooking the infinity pool.However, while focussing on highlighting its enchanting natural surroundings, luxury resort in Sri Lanka gives priority to providing its guests with the finest comforts and service.

Stylish bedrooms and suites offer wonderful views over Kandalama Lake. As well as the delicious buffets and theme nights in main restaurant, hotel offers fine dining in Fusion Dining Room and some more exotic, unusual options . Don’t forget to ask about special Heritance cuisine.Heritance Kandalama has won more than 70 awards & certificates for its architecture, food and service, Food Safety Management System, Energy Management System & Environment Management System. Hotel was the first Green Globe 21 certified hotel in Asia and, most recently, in June 2011, won the Gold Award for Built Environment in the prestigious Green Apple Awards & are the First LEED Certified Hotel in the World.Hotel staff speaks English, French, Italian, Sinhalese and Tamil are eager to help you in any way they can – just ask.

Accommodation

The 152 rooms at Heritance Kandalama showcase the architectural genius of Geoffrey Bawa. Split between two wings, all rooms overlook the Kandalama tank and forest. Those in the Dambulla wing also have views of the enormous Buddha on Dambulla Rock, while rooms in the Sigiriya wing look out over the famous rock fortress. Every room is set at a different angle from its neighbours, so the view from each is unique.

Entering your room is like entering your own private world – a five-star cocoon at the centre of the 230-acre Kandalama estate. Polished wood floors and sophisticated colour palettes of black, grey and red are complemented by local fabrics and hangings. The glass-fronted bathrooms make you feel part of the natural landscape outside: you can take a refreshing shower or relax in the Jacuzzi without fear of being overlooked (except maybe by the monkeys who casually clamber up the creepers on your balcony!). Each bathroom is tastefully supplied with custom-made Kandalama toiletries.

The rooms are fully equipped with energy-efficient air conditioning, TVs with satellite and local channels, a comprehensive minibar and a digital safe. The free bottles of Hethersett Water come from the mountain spring of sister hotel, Heritance Tea Factory, and also provide coffee- and tea-making equipment, to help you make the most of your stay at one of the finest Sri Lanka resorts.

All rooms are accessible to wheelchairs, and offer driver quarters if you have your own driver. Also provide free Wi-Fi in every room, as well as laundry service (no dry cleaning), porter service and 24-hour room service.Free cots are available for babies; can also provide an extra bed for a child on request.

Superior RoomsMaking for an ideal Sigiriya accommodation option in the heart of the Cultural Triangle, Superior Rooms in the Dambulla wing have private balconies with a view of the lake and the Dambulla Rock. The shower cubicles are equipped with giant rain shower heads to provide a refreshing, invigorating experience.

Panoramic RoomsPanoramic Rooms in the Dambulla wing have private balconies with a view of the lake and the Dambulla Rock.

Number of rooms: 22Location: Fifth floor, Dambulla wing

Facilities

King size bed or twin beds

Digital safe

Fully stocked mini bar

Telephone with international direct dialling at a charge

Free Wi-Fi

Shower cubicle

Air conditioning and fan

Tea and coffee-making facilities

24-hour room service

Piped music

21-inch TV with satellite and local channels

Hair dryer

Free toiletries

Laundry service

Private balcony

Luxury RoomsLuxury Rooms are located in the Sigiriya wing, with views of the famous rock fortress. They are larger than Superior Rooms, and the bathroom contains a separate bathtub as well as a shower cubicle.

Number of rooms: 30Floors: Second and third floors, Sigiriya wingSize: 264 square feet (25 square metres)

Facilities

King size bed or twin beds

Digital safe

Fully stocked mini bar

Telephone with international direct dialling

Free Wi-Fi

Separate bathtub and shower cubicle

Air conditioning and fan

Tea and coffee-making facilities

24-hour room service

Piped music

21-inch TV with satellite and local channels

Hair dryer

Free toiletries

Laundry service

Private balcony

Luxury Panoramic RoomsLuxury Panoramic rooms are situated on the 07th floor of Dambulla Wing and have a private balconies with a view of the lake and the Dambulla Rock. Also these rooms feature the largest balconies out of all our hotel rooms – with the best views of the Kandalama tank!

Number of rooms: 3Location: Seventh floor, Dambulla wing

Facilities

King size bed or twin beds

Digital safe

Fully stocked mini bar

Telephone with international direct dialling at a charge

Free Wi-Fi

Shower cubicle & Bath tub

Air conditioning and fan

Tea and coffee-making facilities

In room dining service

Piped music

21-inch TV with satellite and local channels

Hair dryer

Free toiletries

Laundry service

Private balcony

Deluxe RoomsUnwind in the luxury of one of the Deluxe Roomsl, fitted with a private Jacuzzi with overhead rainshower. Also provide bathrobes and slippers. Some of the rooms have a double aspect over the lake and the mountains.

SuitesWith a separate sitting area, two private balconies, and a DVD player, the Suites provide you with more space to spread out and relax. They are ideal for families, as can provide an extra bed in the sitting area. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi and separate rainshower cubicle, as well as bathrobes and slippers.

Luxury SuitesDrink in the awe-inspiring views of Dambulla Rock, the golden Buddha statue and Kandalama Lake from one of the two private balconies in each Luxury Suite at Heritance Kandalama, which ranks among the leading luxury hotels in Sri Lanka.These luxury suites feature a separate living area with sofa and chairs as well as LCD TV and DVD player (you can borrow DVDs from the reception), or you can retire to your four-poster bed with a book. No waiting to use the bathroom, either, as it comes with twin basins, Jacuzzi and separate rainshower cubicle.

Royal SuiteThe Royal Suite at captivating Sigiriya wing is more like having your own spacious apartment – it’s two comfortable suites sharing a living room. And with 24-hour butler service, you only have to ring if you need anything.One of the bedrooms faces the lake, while the other overlooks the jungle. Both have four-poster beds, Jacuzzi and shower, and twin basins. Beautiful examples of local craftwork feature in batik-covered walls and handloom hangings and woven rugs.The living room boasts a dining table that can seat 10 people – perfect for a dinner party, large families or business meetings. Alternatively, wind down on the comfortable sofas with a drink, discussing the day’s adventures or watching a DVD.

Facilities

Whether you want to relax with a book by the infinity pool, work up a sweat in the gym or wind down with a relaxing massage in the spa, have a comprehensive range of facilities to keep you occupied.

As one of the finest resorts in Sri Lanka, can also host conferences in Kasyapa Room. Purge the pressures of the workplace at Heritance Hotels’ inspiring new Heritance Kandalama Conference Centre, a one-of-a-kind, purpose-built venue that seats up to 350.

Whether you seek configurable meeting spaces or state-of-the-art conferencing technologies, the Heritance Kandalama Conference Centre boasts of extensive meeting facilities, delicious cuisine, and expert hospitality and service staff who understand that flexibility and adaptability is essential to successfully seeing through your meeting. With a breathtaking panorama of the Kandalama lake, it is the ideal setting for strategic planning, leadership training and team-building get-togethers as hard-working corporate or nonprofit teams come together to discover new synergies and create lasting memories.

The venue includes a 3,640 square foot conference hall and four breakout rooms that provide everything from exceptional comfort, beauty, and acoustics, to state-of-the-art technology with wireless internet, lighting, projection, and sound systems. And what better way to end a day of focused and productive planning and training than to trek through the jungle and scale Elephant Rock, go on wild elephant safari at Minneriya National Park, or, if you prefer equally great indoors, step onto the 2,127 square foot cocktail deck that offers an unobstructed view of the Ritigala mountain range and the glamorous light of Kandalama’s famous sunsets to add tropical color to your cocktail.

Heritance Kandalama is one of Asia’s and Sri Lanka’s most awarded resorts. It is the first hotel in the world to receive LEED certification and is committed to sustainable building and green space with 30,363 square feet of LEED-certified space. To date, the 152 room resort has won Sri Lanka Tourism’s “Best 5 Star Resort” for three consecutive years and was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Things to do

Located at the heart of the cultural triangle, Heritance Kandalama is close to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the 2,000-year-old cave temple at Dambulla and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

Two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, are also within driving distance, as is the Minneriya wildlife sanctuary